Ben Askren announces retirement from MMA
It’s official: Former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion Ben Akren is now retired. Askren was a guest on ESPN’s Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, and made laid the news on the world. While not entirely unexpected, it is still a big moment for the MMA community. While he is coming off of two straight losses, he also revealed that he requires a hip replacement. This also played a role in his decision making.
Breaking: Ben Askren just announced his retirement on the #helwanishow. He is live now on the show:https://t.co/bSNFWZtkrS
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 18, 2019
“I’m retired from the sport of mixed martial arts, and frankly, I’m retired from everything,” Askren told Helwani on the live broadcast. “I need a hip replacement.”
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The decision comes following his recent submission loss to Demian Maia at UFC Singapore, his second straight in the UFC. He beat Robbie Lawler in his UFC debut, though it came via an extremely controversial submission. Despite Lawler not tapping to the bulldog choke Askren applied, referee Herb Dean stopped the fight. He then faced Jorge Masvidal in a bout with an intense buildup, and in which Askren was brutally knocked out just five seconds into the bout.
While Askren mentioned that he was considering retirement after the loss to Maia, it has only now become official.
